Former prime minister Gordon Brown has taken on a job at a global investment firm.

The ex-Labour leader will advise Pimco on economic and political issues, the company announced.

Mr Brown is expected to attend several meetings a year at the company's Newport Beach office in California as well as an annual forum to discuss the global economic outlook.

The former premier announced last year that he was bowing out of Westminster politics at the May election and would instead focus on charity work and his role as a United Nations envoy.

In his new role, he will join four other economic experts on the global advisory board - Ben Bernanke, former US federal reserve chairman, Jean-Claude Trichet, former president of the European Central Bank, Anne-Marie Slaughter, former director of policy planning for the US State Department, and Ng Kok Song, former chief investment officer of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation.

Dan Ivascyn, Pimco's group chief investment officer, said: "The global advisory board is an unrivalled team of macroeconomic thinkers and former policy makers, whose insights into the intersection of policy and financial markets will be a valuable input to our investment process."

The spokesman added: "Any money goes to the office of Gordon and Sarah Brown to support their charitable and public service work. Mr Brown does not receive a penny."

Your Comments

COMMENT RULES: Comments that are judged to be defamatory, abusive or in bad taste are not acceptable and contributors who consistently fall below certain criteria will be permanently blacklisted. The moderator will not enter into debate with individual contributors and the moderator’s decision is final. It is Belfast Telegraph policy to close comments on court cases, tribunals and active legal investigations. We may also close comments on articles which are being targeted for abuse. Problems with commenting? customercare@belfasttelegraph.co.uk